Following are some simple words and phrases useful to a first-time traveler in Ethiopia. The list is by no means exhaustive, nor does it make any attempt at fluency in the language. It is hoped that it will assist an English speaker in communicating basic needs in a polite manner.

Simple Pronunciation guide

a as the ‘a’ in father

e as the ‘e’ in set

I as the ‘I’ in ship

o as the ‘o’ in go

u as the ‘oo’ in boot

gn as the ‘gn’ in compagne (French)

Amharic spellings that follow are phonetic as per the above guide to aid in pronunciation